Sol Campbell speaks out on homophobia

Former England footballer and current Macclesfield Town manager Sol Campbell has spoken out after experiencing homophobic abuse at his club’s match against Cheltenham on Saturday 26 January.

A married father of three, Campbell has often been the subject of anti-gay comments and chanting. He says that the homophobia directed towards him is simply because, as a player, he didn’t bring girlfriends along to matches.

Speaking to the BBC, the ex-Arsenal and Tottenham defender said that he had been surprised by ‘a really sad underbelly of abuse in football that has been left for far too long’.

“I'm not even playing anymore,” said Campbell. “I'm a manager. It's not like I've got anything against whoever I'm playing. I don't understand why there is animosity towards a manager who has got nothing to do with their club other than being the opposition.”

The incident comes at a time when Zone has turned the spotlight on football clubs’ LGBT+ fan groups. The February issue of the magazine includes a feature on Proud Baggies, a supporters’ group dedicated to the task of increasing LGBT+ visibility at West Bromwich Albion Football Club and fighting homophobia.